Multi-stroke tool



g- 11, 1959 M. LAZAR ET AL 2,898,790

MULTI-STROKE 'To0L Filed May 29, 1957 INVENTOR. Male 4:1 [AZ/1e [ow/A 7.111412 4 free/v: y I

United States Patent MULTI-STROKE TOOL Michael Lazar, New York, N.Y., and Edwin T. Salz,

Norwalk, Conn., assignors to Burndy Corporation, Norwalk, Conn., a corporation .of New York Application May 29, 1957, Serial No. 662,426

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-15) Our invention relates to a multi-stroke tool wherein an electrical connector may be manually compressed.

Hitherto, the crimping of insulated connectors required a high input force when single action tools were employed or power equipment suitable for a variety of connector sizes were used.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the design of a multi-stroke compression tool wherein a plurality of low input force strokes may be employed, in place of a single action high input force tool.

Other objects are to provide a form of ratchet and cam tool for accomplishing the foregoing object, wherein the movable jaw of the tool is successively advanced until the connector has been crirnped to a conductor, and the completed connection released from the grip of the tool; to provide means in the tool for adjusting the position of the movable jaw to enable connectors of various sizes to be accommodated in the tool; and to provide a tool having the foregoing characteristics that is relatively simple to manufacture, and easy to manipulate by an unskilled operator.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished and new results achieved as will be apparent from the device pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our tool, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the ratchet lever taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, reference numeral designates our multi-stroke tool comprising in part the fixed jaw 12, the movable jaw or indentor 14, the frame 16, the cam follower 18 for driving the indentor, the cam 20, the movable handle 22 for rotating the cam, and the stationary handle 24 for supporting the frame and inserted connector 26.

The cam is operated by a ratchet mechanism comprising the ratchet plate 28 rotatably mounted to the cam shaft 30 which is locked to cam by the key 32. The cam plate is tapered as at 34 to engage successively the cam pins 36 which are positioned in cam bosses 38 provided in the sides of cam 20. A spring 40 is positioned in each of the pins to urge the cam pins outwardly. Thus the ratchet plate when moved counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 1 engages each cam pin at taper 34 driving the cam pin inwardly and passing the pin until the cam pin passes the edge 42. At this point, the pin is outwardly projected by the spring 40 to engage the ratchet plate at edge 42 when the plate is moved clockwise. This rotates the cam 20 for the same are that the ratchet plate is moved clockwise. Four cam pins are provided in the example illustrated thus requiring a 90 degree angle of rotation for each oscillation of the movable handle 22 to which the ratchet plate is attached by rivets 44. The ratchet plate forms a U-shaped construction, being connected by bar 46 to a similarly formed cam pin supporting plate48 against which the springs 40 react.

The cam plate operates against cam follower 18 which Patented Aug. 11,1959

2 Z is rotatably supported as at shaft 50 in the end of the indentor 14. 3

The indentor is made adjustable to provide fora wide variety of connector sizes. This isaccomplished by sep arating the indentor into a head portion 52 and a follower supporting block 54 which are spaced apart by a selector sleeve 56 upon which the connector sizes are indicated. By rotating the sleeve 56, on the head portion, the effective length of the indentor may be changed. A spring 58 keeps the ram head seated in the selector sleeve.

One end of spring 58 is secured to the frame 16 by means of pilot pin 60. The rear end of the spring 58 is secured to the indentor by means of pilot 62. In manner the follower of the indentor is constantly pressed against the cam.

Plates 64 and 66 are screwed to the frame to cover the indentor mechanism while plates 68 and 70 are similarly secured to cover the cam mechanism and to support cam shaft 30.

The stationary jaw is preferably hinged to the frame at pivot pin 72 and secured by retaining pin 74.

Key 76 may be added to permit the cam to be rotated to any desired position without movement of the handles.

The cam is shaped to provide the desired mechanical advantage required for moving the indentor die and indenting the connector.

When the selector is rotated-to the proper connector size, the connector is inserted and ready for indentation, and the movable handle is oscillated causing the pins to be alternately depressed in their respective bosses and engaged by the ratchet lever to rotate the cam and operate the indentor. After four strokes starting from the portion of the cam illustrated in Fig. l, the indentor is progressively advanced to the proper position for indenting the connector whose size is marked by the selector.

The indentor is lifted with the left hand while the selector is rotated to the desired size designation. The indentor is then released, the connector inserted and the movable handle oscillated until the connection is made.

We have thus described our invention, but we desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown or described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention and, therefore, we claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which objects of our invention are attained and new results accomplished,

as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

We claim:

1. A compressing tool comprising a frame, movable and fixed jaws in said frame, a cam follower operating said movable jaw, a cam rotatably secured to said frame and engaging the cam follower, said cam having a plurality of projections, a ratchet lever pivoted to said frame and successively engaging said projections to rotate said cam and thereby actuate said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw and means for sliding said ratchet over an end of each projection for engaging a side of said projection wherein the projections extending from said cam are outwardly spring biased and the ratchet lever is provided with a tapered surface for causing the projections to be inwardly moved against the action of the springs.

2. A compressing tool comprising a frame having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw in said frame, a cam follower operating said movable jaw and being relatively adjustable with respect thereto, a cam rotatably secured to said frame and engaging the cam follower, said cam having a plurality of outwardly positioned spring biased pins, a ratchet lever pivoted to said frame and having a tapered surface References Cited in the file of this patent on one edge for causing the ins to be invvardly moved UNITED STATES PATENTS against the actlon of the springs to permlt the ratchet lever to pass over, the pins, said ratchet lever successively 326,897 Brooks Sept 1885 engaging a side of each pin when moved in the reverse 5 gfgg z gg direction to cause the rotatable cam to o erate the cam P 2,633,161 Schultz Mar. 31, 1953 follower and movable jaw, thereby moving the movable jaw towards said fixed jaw. 

